3/12/2013 DeadwoodScriptures: Malachi 4:1-3
In California there are giant redwood trees that can live up to 2000 years some with heights that measure as high as 300 feet and diameters as wide as 35 feet. Their bark can be 12 inches thick and their branches 5 feet around, yet they have very shallow roots that grow only 10 to 13 feet deep. The roots grow out from 30 to 80 feet and with this size it can be very dangerous for tree: what the tree does to survive is intertwines their roots with nearby tress for added support and strength. Have you ever noticed that living trees always have deadwood? The tree seems to stop feeding the deadwood and allows it to fall away. The tree seems to know the value of its living parts and puts its resources in keeping those thriving. If you cut down a tree you can see that they keep a records of their existence through rings on their trunks. Thin rings show that they have had years of droughts, while thick rings show they have had healthy years. The rings can tell you if the tree was ever hit by lightening or had a disease. If you were to look at your "rings" what would they say about your life? Do you have a lot of thin rings showing scars of ancient hurts or wounds that never healed? Will you have thick rings reminding you of great years filled with joy and blessing? Maybe the rings will show that you have been hit by some storms, or been strucl by lightening. Maybe their are rings still being formed as you continue to grow. We all have some deadwood in our lives that we have let hang around on us, and the problem is we spend too much time and effort focusing on the dead pieces that we let whats good and flourshing in our lives suffer. So how do we get rid of this deadwood? This stuff that is hanging aroud getting in the way of our happiness? We need to admit that we have been hurt and not just angry, and we must choose healing over hurting. We have to let God take away the deadwood, so the new growth can multiply. We all have some living wood: green full of sap ready to grow and produce. The Bible says it this way: "but the sun of righteousness will rise on those revering my name, healing will be in its wings." Focus your thoughts on the things of God: just as a tree needs the sun we need the light of God's love to shine on us. We need to intertwine our roots with other believers, because we need support, life is not meant to be lived alone! God wants you to expericence His grace and grow! Comments are closed.
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